Maltese units of measurement

In modern usage, metric is used almost exclusively in commercial transactions. These units are mostly historical, although they are still used in some limited contexts and in Maltese idioms and set phrases. Many of these terms are directly related to Arabic units and some to Sicilian units. The Weights and Measures Ordinance of 1921 established uniformity in the conversion of such weights and measures. All these measures were defined as simple multiples of the Imperial units then in use in Britain.

Length

Length units were typically used for measuring goods and building sizes. Distances were traditionally measured in terms of travel time, which explains the lack of large scale units.

Volume

These units were all (except for the cubic units) defined in 1921 relative to the British Imperial gallon, which was defined in the 1824 act. This is equal to 10 pounds of water at a specified temperature and air pressure. This (~4.546 090 31 litres) is slightly larger than the modern definition (exactly 4.546 09 litres).

Beer, wine, and spirits measure

None of the units from this group are mentioned in TY Maltese.

Table of volume (beer, wine, & spirits) units

Unit

Plural

Relativevalue

Metricvalue

Imperialvalue

Notes

pinta

pinet

1/8

~142.1 ml

0.25 pt

terz

terzi

1/4

~284.1 ml

0.5 pt

'third'

nofs

infas

1/2

~568.3 ml

1 pt

'half'

kartoċċ

krateċ

1

~1.137 litres

2 pt

kwarta

kwarti

4.75

~5.398 L

9.5 pt

'quarter'

ġarra

ġarar

9.5

~10.8 L

2.375 gal

barmil

bramel

38

~43.19 L

9.5 gal

'barrel'

Milk and Oil measure

Table of volume (milk & oil) units

Unit

Plural

Relativevalue

Metricvalue

Imperialvalue

Notes

kwartin

kwartini

1/40

~31.96 ml

1.125 fl oz

'quarter'. Referenced in 1921 Act only.

kejla

kejliet

1/10

~127.9 ml

4.5 fl oz

'measure' Referenced in 1921 Act only.

terz

terzi

1/4

~319.6 ml

11.25 fl oz

'third'

nofs

infas

1/2

~639.3 ml

22.5 fl oz, or1.125 pints

'half'

kartoċċ

krateċ

1

~1.279 litres

2.25 pt

kwarta

kwarti

4

~5.114 L

9 pt, or1.125 gal

'quarter'

qafiż

qofża

16

~20.46 L

4.5 gal

Referenced in 1921 Act only.

Dry

None of these units are mentioned in TY Maltese. Note that there are two conflicting values for the siegħ (1/10 and 1/6 tomna, respectively).

Table of volume (dry) units

Unit

Plural

Relativevalue

Metricvalue

Imperialvalue

Notes

lumin

lumini

1/600

~30.31ml

~1.849cuin

kejla

kejliet

1/60

~303.1ml

~18.49cuin

also called a mondell

siegħ

sigħan

1/10

~1.818L

~111cuin

This is the value listed for the siegħ by Aquilina. The 1921 Act has a different value. This amount is exactly 3.2 imperial pints.

għabara

1/6

~3.031L

~184.9cuin,or~0.107cuft

Referenced in Aquilina only. The 1921 Act uses this value for the siegħ, and does not mention the għabara by name.

tomna

tmien,ortomniet

1

~18.18L

~0.6422cuft

Sometimes called the tumolo in English texts. This is exactly 4 imperial gallons.

modd

mdied

16

~290.9L

~10.27cuft,or~0.3805cuyd

'weigh'. An alternate name given by Aquilina is the salma. This is exactly 64 imperial gallons.

Cubic

Table of volume (cubic) units

Unit

Plural

Relativevalue

Metricvalue

Imperialvalue

Notes

pulzier kubu

pulzieri kubi

1/1728

~10.4ml

~0.6347cuin

fitel kubu

iftla kubi

1/8

~2.246L

~137.1cuin

xiber kubu

xbar kubi

1

~17.97L

~1097cuin

qasba kubu

qasab kubi, orqasbiet kubi

512

~9.202kl

~12.04cuyd

a volume 1 qasba by 1 qasba by 1 qasba

Mass

All the Maltese mass units were redefined relative to the British Imperial ton in 1921. Before this, the units were presumably based on an Arabic standard. All equivalent measures listed in pounds below are exact values.